Some of the farm-level factors that are crucial for intensified food crop production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is discussed. The current trends and indicators of intensification, including yield, total production per farm and consumption unit and sale of crops are also discussed, based on the...

This chapter summarizes key lessons emerging from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) review of African agricultural successes. The discussions focus primarily on the role of technology in triggering advances in African agriculture. 'Success' was defined by the IFPRI team as a...

The influence of climatic, policy and institutional-related (infrastructure, technology, institutional support) factors on the decline in maize output and yields and the subsequent deepening and broadening of food poverty in Kenya is discussed. This chapter provides lessons to enable a re-focusing...

This chapter draws on the evidence from the evaluation of the Starter Pack/Targeted Inputs Programme in Malawi to show that, in the post-liberalization context, Starter Pack makes a contribution to national food security. However, the way it works is different from what the original designers of...

This chapter examines the potential of the Starter Pack programme to support longer-term pro-poor growth in Malawi. Sections examine: (i) critical constraints to economic growth in rural Malawi; (ii) short- and long-term policies for food security, poverty reduction and economic growth; (iii) the...

Economic theory and agroecosystem analysis were used to assess the effects of technological changes on deforestation during the 20th century in the miombo savanna woodlands of northern Zambia. Historical facts concerning demographic, policy and technological changes are combined with applied farm...

An ex ante evaluation of factors affecting farmers' land use is presented, using surveyed data gathered from low-income maize and vegetable farmers in a southern Philippines watershed at the forest margin to measure how land and labour allocations for various crops respond to changes in expected...